“There is charm in the simplicity of the 16th century interiors and the integrity of the materials used,” says the interior and architectural designer Guy Goodfellow. “This simplicity did not reappear until the Arts and Crafts movement. [of the late 19th Century]When it came as a relief after the heaviness of the Victorian era. ”
In his 16th-century mansion on Dartmoor, Goodfellow hung tapestries on the walls. This pays homage to the Tudor and Jacobean custom of precious rugs being displayed vertically or draped over a table, rather than laid out underfoot. The floors were often simply stuffed with earth or stone flags, and scattered with fragrant grass collected from the surrounding meadows, so spills could be absorbed and swept and replaced. These, known as degraining, gave rise to the term “threshold.” In Tudor and some Jacobean houses, raised pieces of wood in doorways held the grass in place as people passed, Armstrong-Blair explains.
“The hall might just have had a large table, chairs, benches, and a cupboard with silver and pewter flatware,” says Armstrong-Blair. Chairs were a luxury item, but stools and benches were everywhere.
Max Lauritt/Schumacher/Yavington Byrnebedroom room
Four-poster beds remain popular with designers and homeowners today, as they allow multiple people to share a sleeping area, and they typically provided both privacy and warmth. “Bed curtains are made from British wool, sometimes with crewel work or embroidered linen, or, for the wealthy, expensive velvets and damasks may be imported from Italy,” says Knight. However, the wardrobe was not typical, with clothes and bedding folded and placed in wooden chests.
Source: BBC Culture – www.bbc.com
